2008 Round One Mock Draft

With the 2008 NFL Draft tomorrow, I thought it was time to post my Round 1 mock draft. I've also added Miami's No. 32 pick here, just because the first round usually has 32 picks and I figured what the hell. Here's the mock, with explanations of each pick.

1. Miami Dolphins - Jake Long, offensive tackle, Michigan

Call me crazy, but I just have a feeling this is going to happen. I know it's a long shot. (Hey, that's a pun!)

In all seriousness, while Long was not my first choice (Gholston was), it's definitely a good pick and will go a long way in solidifying the offensive line. It allows the team to move Vernon Carey back to right tackle, for which he is far better suited.

2. St. Louis Rams - Chris Long, defensive end, Virginia

I think Jake Long would have been the pick here had he not gone No. 1, and now it's really a toss-up between Dorsey and Chris Long. I say they go with Long, as they might be wary to take another defensive tackle after so many failures at that position before.

3. Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan, quarterback, Boston College

Ryan had a long drought here for me - I had him a long time ago, and didn't again until today. It seems like Dorsey is the most likely pick, but I have a feeling they go with Ryan. In my opinion, it's the right move; the sooner they move on from Vick the better.

4. Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden, running back, Arkansas

Gholston or Dorsey will be tempting here and they'd be my top two choices if I were Oakland, but in the end I don't think the speed-loving Al Davis can pass up on McFadden. Possibly the best player in the draft, McFadden is definitely worthy of the pick and would provide a huge boost to Oakland's running game.

5. Kansas City Chiefs - Branden Albert, Guard, Virginia

Few prospects have had their stock rise as rapidly as Albert in the past few months. He's gone from the best guard prospect and late first-round pick to a legit left tackle prospect and a top 5 pick. The Chiefs desperately need offensive line help and Albert would go a long way in improving that. You also have to imagine they could field a ton of offers if Dorsey is still available here.

6. New York Jets - Vernon Gholston, defensive end, Ohio State

As much as I like Gholston, I don't think he's the ideal pick for the Jets simply because they have a lot of money already invested in the outside linebacker position. Nevertheless, Gholston is the best 3-4 OLB in the draft and will excel in that role, plus the Jets will do anything to keep him away from the Patriots.

7. New England Patriots - Leodis McKelvin, cornerback, Troy

The Patriots will desperately try to trade out of this spot and I expect it to happen. But since I'm not projecting trades and I have Gholston off the board, I think McKelvin would be the pick. The corner spot is a little thin for them, especially after losing Asante Samuel in free agency. They could also take the best available 3-4 OLB in Derrick Harvey, but a trade out seems most likely.

8. Baltimore Ravens - Glenn Dorsey, defensive tackle, Louisiana State

To be honest, I think of Dorsey began to fall someone would trade up ahead of Baltimore and he'd be off the board. But since I'm not projecting trade and I have guys like Ryan and McKelvin gone, I think they could just take the best player available in Dorsey. He could definitely play end in the 3-4 and would create an insanely good front with Haloti Ngata and Kelly Gregg. The Ravens could also go with a 3-4 rusher in Harvey or take an offensive tackle to eventually replace Ogden.

9. Cincinnati Bengals - Sedrick Ellis, defensive tackle, Southern California

The Bengals' interior defensive line is pretty bare and Ellis would be a great pick for them here. Derrick Harvey could also be an option, as could a linebacker, offensive tackle or receiver, but Ellis is the best player available and also fills a need.

10. New Orleans Saints - Keith Rivers, linebacker, Southern California

I personally think corner is the bigger need given the additions of Vilma and Morgan, but McKelvin's going higher in my mock and I don't think any of the other guys at the position are worth the No. 10 pick. If they can't trade up for Dorsey or Ellis and McKelvin is gone, Rivers would be a sensible pick and would definitely add talent to a position that has been pretty lackluster in recent years.

11. Buffalo Bills - Devin Thomas, wide receiver, Michigan State

The Bills could definitely use another receiver to pair with Lee Evans, and all indications are the team is smitten with Thomas. He's a little raw and inexperienced, but has good physical attributes and upside and would be a good complement to Evans. A corner would also make sense here.

12. Denver Broncos - Ryan Clady, offensive tackle, Boise State

The Broncos could go a few directions with this pick including running back, wide receiver, linebacker and back. With Matt Lepsis retiring, the Broncos are pretty thin at offensive tackle and I say they go with Clady here. Obviously, guys like Chris Williams and Jeff Otah would be in consideration here too so really it's a toss-up.

13. Carolina Panthers - Derrick Harvey, defensive end, Florida

If Derrick Harvey falls to No. 13, you can bet the Panthers will pounce on him here. With Mike Rucker retiring and Julius Peppers coming off a 2.5-sack season, it's time to add some young talent to the position. And offensive tackle or power back would also make sense here.

14. Chicago Bears - Jeff Otah, offensive tackle, Pittsburgh

The Bears' offensive line is aging and on the decline, and a mauler like Otah would be the perfect addition to the group. The Bears obviously need a quarterback but there isn't really one worth it here, so offensive tackle will do.

15. Detroit Lions - Jerod Mayo, linebacker, Tennessee

The Lions have plenty of bodies at linebacker, but outside of Ernie Sims there isn't much young talent. Mayo would be a great addition to their linebackers corps and could eventually make it one of the league's better ones. Running back is also a strong possibility and you have to figure he'll consider Stewart or Mendenhall if either is available.

16. Arizona Cardinals - Rashard Mendenhall, running back, Illinois

The Edgerrin James signing has not worked out as hoped and James has never acted like he plans on having a long career anyway. The Cardinals could use a good young back to take over within a year or two and Mendenhall fits the bill. With Antrel Rolle moving to safety (stupid), the Cardinals are pretty thin at corner so Mike Jenkins or DRC could be possibilities here as well.

17. Kansas City Chiefs - Phillip Merling, defensive end, Clemson

With offensive line having already been addressed, the Chiefs use one of the picks they got for defensive end Jared Allen to work toward replacing Allen. Tamba Hali is a good player and teaming him with Merling would allow the Chiefs to move Turk McBride inside with Tank Tyler and have a young and solid defensive line throughout. The falling Keith Rivers could also be appealing here, and the receiving corps after Dwayne Bowe is pretty bare as well.

18. Houston Texans - Jonathan Stewart, running back, Oregon

The Texans have a lot of bodies at the running back position, but not much talent. Stewart would give them a legitimate No. 1 back. They could also take someone like Rivers if he fell, and a defensive back like DRC remains a strong possibility as well.

19. Philadelphia Eagles - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, cornerback, Tennessee State

The Eagles already addressed cornerback in free agency by signing Asante Samuel, but with Lito Sheppard likely gone by the weekend a good young prospect would be a wise move. A wide receiver is also a strong possibility here, and you can't rule out an offensive tackle like Chris Williams either.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Chris Williams, offensive tackle, Vanderbilt

The Buccaneers failed with the Kenyatta Walker pick, so now it's time to try it again. Williams would be a strong left tackle addition to a pretty thing group that includes Anthony Davis, Luke Petitgout, Donald Penn, Jeremy Trueblood and some you probably haven't heard of. The cornerback position could be an option but keep in mind they very well might land Lito Sheppard on draft day. A young receiver would also make a lot of sense here too considering their best receiver (Galloway) is 75.

21. Washington Redskins - Mike Jenkins, cornerback, South Florida

A lot of people have Calais Campbell here and that would make sense, but I just can't see a team using this high a pick on him after the poor workouts he's had. With Carlos Rogers' season in doubt, Shawn Springs past his prime and Fred Smoot being, well, not that good, adding a corner like Jenkins would be a wise move. He could contribute to the return game as well.

22. Dallas Cowboys - Aqib Talib, cornerback, Kansas

After losing Jacques Reeves and Nathan Jones in free agency, the Cowboys could use some depth at corner and Talib would be a good addition here. Running back also remains an option but I have them addressing it a little later.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers - Gosder Cherilus, offensive tackle, Boston College

Branden Albert once looked like a strong possibility for Pittsburgh here, but those days are long gone. I think the Steelers will still go offensive line though and with Max Starks' long-term future with the team uncertain, they take Cherilus to work at the right tackle spot. They'd also probably consider Jonathan Stewart if he were to fall to this point.

24. Tennessee Titans - Limas Sweed, wide receiver, Texas

The Titans are lacking a true No. 1 receiver, and who better than an extremely talented player and former Vince Young teammate in Sweed to try and fill that void? Sweed has great size and hands and while Vince Young is close to beyond hope in the opinion of this writer, a former college teammate couldn't hurt. A defensive end to replace Antwan Odom would also make sense here.

25. Seattle Seahawks - Dustin Keller, tight end, Purdue

Having added T.J. Duckett and Julius Jones in free agency, running back is no longer as glaring a need and the Seahawks have other options with this pick. The Seahawks lack a real receiving threat at tight end and Keller is the only one even worthy of consideration in Round 1. A dark horse for this pick in my opinion would be Miami safety Kenny Phillips.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars - Kentwan Balmer, defensive tackle, North Carolina

Defensive line is a priority for the Jaguars inside and out, so it's a good bet they address it in some form here. I'm going Balmer to help fill the Marcus Stroud void, though a pass rusher like Lawrence Jackson or Quentin Groves is certainly possible too.

27. San Diego Chargers - Brandon Flowers, cornerback, Virginia Tech

One of the few needs for San Diego is cornerback after the loss of Drayton Florence in free agency, so I'm expecting them to address that need here in Flowers. A team as talented as San Diego can also make picks based on talent, so there are plenty of other directions they could go here too. Even a running back is a possibility with Michael Turner now in Atlanta.

28. Dallas Cowboys - Felix Jones, running back, Arkansas

If Darren McFadden doesn't fall for enough to entice Jerry Jones to trade up and grab him, Jones will settle for Arkansas' other back in Felix Jones. Julius Jones is gone and Marion Barber III appears to be a long shot to stay beyond 2008, so Felix Jones would be a great addition. Coming from Jerry Jones' alma mater doesn't hurt the situation.

29. San Francisco 49ers - DeSean Jackson, wide receiver, California

Jackson is a little on the small side, but he's a comparable athlete to Ted Ginn, Jr. and would add a potentially great deep threat to San Francisco's unimpressive receiving corps. They could also look at other receivers like Malcolm Kelly or James Hardy, or a pass rusher like Quentin Groves to team with Manny Lawson.

30. Green Bay Packers - Antoine Cason, cornerback, Arizona

The Packers' starting corners are both over 30 now, so it's time to add some talented youth to the position. I think Brandon Flowers is the pick if he falls this far, but since I have him going earlier I think Cason is the next logical choice.

31. New York Giants - Tyrell Johnson, safety, Arkansas State

With Gibril Wilson off to Oakland and Sammy Knight projected to start, safety is a big need and word is Johnson will be the first off the board. If he goes before the Giants then Kenny Phillips would probably be next in line. A linebacker like Dan Connor is really the only other justifiable direction to go in my eyes.

32. Miami Dolphins - Quentin Groves, defensive end, Auburn

Even if Jason Taylor plays for the Dolphins in 2008 (which I doubt), he's not going to be around much longer. In addition, Joey Porter was a free agent bust in 2007 and I think Parcells & Co. will want to find some young pass-rushing outside linebackers for the 3-4. Groves is a perfect fit for that role and would be a great pick for Miami at the beginning of Round 2.

Miami's options at No. 1

I'll probably cover this with a video closer to the draft, but I've written an article for KFFL.com on the Dolphins' situation with the No. 1 overall pick, what options they'll explore and what they are likely to do. If you're interested, you can read the article here.

2008 Offseason Preview: Outside Linebackers

As promised, here is my second video of the day - this one on the Dolphins' current situation at outside linebacker. The defensive line videos should be out in 2-3 days, but for now enjoy this video, the inside linebackers one below or any of the others in case you've missed them! Enjoy.

Tony Sparano Impact Report

The following is an article about the hiring of Tony Sparano for KFFL.com.

Coming off a dismal 1-15 season – the worst in the franchise’s 42-year history – the Dolphins have will now have their third different head coach in three seasons starting in 2008. Tony Sparano – an assistant under various titles for the Dallas Cowboys since 2003 – takes the reins under front-office honcho Bill Parcells and new general manager Jeff Ireland as the Dolphins look to get out of the NFL’s cellar.

Background

Sparano, 46, joins the Dolphins with over two decades of college and pro coaching experience. After graduating from the University of New Haven in 1982, where he was also the starting center, Sparano served as the offensive line coach at his alma mater from 1984 to 1987. He then served in the same capacity for Boston University for one season, followed by a return to New Haven as offensive coordinator. After running the team’s offense from 1989 to 1993, Sparano spent the next five seasons as the team’s head coach.

In 1999, Sparano made the leap to the NFL coaching ranks as offensive quality control coach for the Cleveland Browns. He held the role for two seasons, after which time he served as tight ends coach for the Washington Redskins in 2001 and then the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2002.

Sparano joined Bill Parcells’ staff with the Dallas Cowboys in 2003 and held multiple titles as an assistant through 2007. He was the Cowboys’ tight ends coach from 2003 to 2004, offensive line coach/running game coordinator in 2005, assistant head coach/offensive line coach/running game coordinator in 2006 and assistant head coach/offensive line coach in 2007.

A Welcome Change

Not only was change enticing after a horrendous season, it become vital after Cam Cameron lost the whole team by season’s end. Reports of the locker room chaos were revealed after Cameron’s departure, painting a more disastrous picture than the team’s record could do alone. Cameron was too strict at times, kicking veteran defensive tackle Keith Traylor off the team to the chagrin of veterans like Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor. He was too soft at others, letting linebacker Joey Porter berate him in front of the entire team for three minutes without so much of a word in defense. By the end, change was not a possibility – it was a necessity.

Sparano appears in some ways to be the anti-Cameron – a hard-nosed, no-nonsense kind of coach who commands the respect of the players and respects them as well. While there is always optimism after a team makes changes coming off a bad experience, the reality is that things really can’t get much worse anyway.

Run, Run, Run

Cameron called the offensive plays himself in 2007 with horrendous results, though that may have been more a result of lack of talent and extensive injuries than the lack of a true offensive coordinator. In fact, a similar strategy remains a possibility during Sparano’s first season, depending on whether or not an adequate coach can be found.

With the Dolphins’ instability at quarterback coupled with Sparano’s history as a former offensive lineman, offensive line coach and running game coordinator, expect a heavy emphasis on the running game for the Dolphins in 2008. The team’s run blocking was far better than its pass protection in 2007 and the Dolphins are deep at the running back position. Ronnie Brown was on his way to a Pro Bowl season before tearing his ACL but should return to full health, and Ricky Williams remains to give the Dolphins possibly one of the best two-head rushing attacks in the NFL. Additionally, rookie Lorenzo Booker showed his versatility with a 4.5 rushing average and 28 receptions – all in the team’s final five games.

On defense, an even stronger push to the 3-4 is likely with Parcells and Ireland building the roster. The Dolphins have attempted to move toward the 3-4 ever since Nick Saban took over in 2005, but have lacked the personnel to run it as their base defense. They have the outside linebackers for the scheme in Jason Taylor and Joey Porter, but lack the bulk on the defensive line. In addition Zach Thomas, while a constant force for the Dolphins for over a decade, has had problems with injuries and is undersized for the 3-4.

Fantasy Impact

As already discussed, the lack of a quarterback will likely mean an emphasis on the run for the Dolphins offensively. As long as he gets help up front, Ronnie Brown should continue to progress and will be Miami’s top fantasy option. Ricky Williams will also be worth a roster spot, given that Brown is coming off an injury and Sparano has a history with a two-back system.

While there’s little to get excited about in the passing game, second-year player Ted Ginn Jr. is probably the most viable fantasy option at receiver. Ginn caught 34 passes for 420 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie despite working with three different quarterbacks – none of which performed particularly well.

For individual defensive player leagues, there are a few possible fantasy options. The Dolphins didn’t always use linebacker Joey Porter in the best way in 2007, but he picked it up in the second half of the season with 4.5 sacks and two interceptions after Week 10. Defensive end Jason Taylor can seemingly always be counted on for double-digit sacks plus some forced fumbles and interceptions. Linebacker Zach Thomas is still a tackling machine, while third-year linebacker Channing Crowder recorded 78 tackles in just 11 games.

LB Crowder placed on IR; QB Bramlet promoted to active roster

Linebacker Channing Crowder (pictured, right) was placed on season-ending injured reserve today with a knee injury, while quarterback Casey Bramlet was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster to take his place. He wear No. 7.

Crowder background

Crowder, a three-year veteran who was originally drafted by Nick Saban in the third round out of Florida in 2005, has started 37 of the 43 games in which he has appeared for the Dolphins.

Though an outside linebacker most of his career, Crowder had been starting at middle linebacker since Week 8 with Zach Thomas (migraines) out. Crowder has not played since Week 13 due to knee injury, and underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Tuesday, Dec. 18. He finishes the 2007 season with 78 tackles (61 solo) and half a sack in 11 games (10 starts).

Bramlet background

Bramlet, 26, was signed to the Dolphins' practice squad on October 24 - four days after starter Trent Green went on injured reserve. The Dolphins had been going with just two quarterbacks on the active roster since Green's injury, with wide receiver Marty Booker (a high school quarterback) serving as the emergency third-stringer.

An All-Mountain West selection at Wyoming, Bramlet (pictured, left) was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round (218th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft. He served as the Bengals' third-string quarterback most of the season behind Jon Kitna and Carson Palmer, though he finished the year No. 2 on the depth chart after Palmer suffered a sprained knee late in the season. Despite a strong showing for the Hamburg Sea Devils of NFL Europe during the 2005 offseason, Bramlet lost the third-string job to Craig Krenzel in training camp.

Bramlet was out of football during the 2005 regular season and signed a future contract with the Washington Redskins in January 2006. He was cut at the end of the preseason, and again spent the regular season out of football. He was re-signed by the Redskins in 2007 and again played for the Hamburg Sea Devils, this time earning World Bowl MVP honors after going 20-of-27 passes for 347 yards and four touchdowns. Nevertheless, he was released prior to training camp when the team opted to carry quarterbacks.

Bramlet was not unemployed for long, however, signing with the Atlanta Falcons on August 12. He released at the end of the preseason, but was re-signed to to practice squad then promoted to the active roster prior to the season opener. He served as the third-string quarterback for the Falcons' first two games of the season, but was released by the team when Byron Leftwich was signed on September 18.

Analysis

Crowder is the 14th Dolphins player, the third linebacker and second starter at the position (after Zach Thomas) to go on IR this season. While a serviceable starter, Crowder's numbers were quite pedestrian this season and the Dolphins' defense has struggled with or without him. He still has a good upside and a future in Miami, as he is under contract through 2008 and is viewed the potential long-term replacement to Thomas inside.

In his absence, the Dolphins will continue to go with the trio of Donnie Spragan, Derrick Pope (pictured, right) and Joey Porter in the starting lineup. Rookies Edmond Miles, Kelvin Smith and Mark Washington will see action in reserve roles.

Meanwhile, Bramlet is unlikely to play this season barring injuries to both Cleo Lemon and John Beck. As with most practice squad guys promoted to the active roster, it is likely he was signed to at least a two-year deal so that the team may retain him this offseason. (Practice squad players are only under contract for one season at a time.) With Lemon an unrestricted free agent at season's end and Green's future is in doubt, the Dolphins will likely bring in a body or two at the position. It seems unlikely, if Bramlet sticks around for camp at all, that he'll have a chance at anything more than the third-string job.